So, with Trainfestival2011 only two weeks away, the question is: Who's going to make the trek to Rock Island? I should be going, although I'm not sure what days (since I will be coming south from the Twin Cities). It looks like a fun event, with all of the steam. Still, I have no idea what engines will be powering the trains. Each of the excursion's thumbnails have pictures of different steam locomotives or an Amtrak P42, but I don't know if those are actually the engines powering the trains, since they don't tell you in the description. I guess we will have to find out.

I'll be there the entire event, arriving late on Tuesday. We're coordinating the night photo shoots this year, just as our organization did in Owosso in 2009 and Petersburg last year. It should be a good event. Lots to see and do.

I wish I could go to the night event, but I just can't make it (it's sold out anyway now). Still, two days of chasing steam (and maybe a little Nebraska Zephyr, since my shots of it from last year sucked) is right up my alley.

The agency that hosted Train Festival was facing a lawsuit last I heard, as a result of unpaid expenses from the Rock Island 2011 events. I've heard that from numerous reliable sources and perhaps even in a magazine? Regardless, if there is any truth to that, I look for Rock Island 2011 to had been the final Train Festival event of its kind.

The agency that hosted Train Festival was facing a lawsuit last I heard, as a result of unpaid expenses from the Rock Island 2011 events. I've heard that from numerous reliable sources and perhaps even in a magazine? Regardless, if there is any truth to that, I look for Rock Island 2011 to had been the final Train Festival event of its kind.

Chase

A gamble every time I am sure. Weather, Railroads, And ticket sales what a crappy combo to bet on!

According to the complaint, Iowa Interstate is asking festival organizer
Prestige Rail Marketing and its president, Jason Johnson, to pay $93,539 in
expenses and fees it incurred to run its two steam locomotives and other
excursion trains during the festival.

Johnson told TRAINS, "The event ended up in the red, and we are in the process
of getting the financing to cover all losses from the event. We fully expect an
out-of-court settlement by year's end." Johnson said that his company would make
good on all the debts it owes.

"The heat really killed us, had a tremendous impact on attendance" he said.
Temperatures were at or exceeded 100 degrees during the entire course of the
event. He said the books were yet to be closed for the festival, and that "there
are still quite a few people out there that owe us… We are working our way
through the list." He said his company is in contact with Iowa Interstate's
bosses each week to provide updates.

Johnson said that his company has already made full payments to several vendors,
including the Rock Island Police Department, and partial payments to others such
as the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society and Iowa Interstate. The Society
operates Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 No. 765. He said the Fort Wayne group has
already received some money, and he expects them to be fully paid "within a
couple of weeks." Johnson said Iowa Interstate has already been paid "around
$90,000." He said the lack of payment following the event is an "unfortunate
situation, but we are digging out."

Rail Development Corp., whose chairman is Henry Posner III, owns Iowa
Interstate. Posner said that the situation "raises serious issues about the
future of such events." He said he was concerned that there could be a "chilling
effect on future events of this kind," after what happened in Rock Island.
Posner said Iowa Interstate and Rail Development Corp. are aware of the value of
outreach to the communities it serves, the general public, and railroad fans. He
said that IAIS went beyond what might be expected to make sure the festival was
successful, and described the situation as "fundamentally demoralizing."

Iowa Interstate President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis H. Miller said that
the railroad received a check from Johnson, but the check bounced. "The contract
said we were to be paid in advance, and we were not," Miller said. "Johnson did
give us a check the day the festival started, it bounced, and he said he just
needed a couple of weeks to make good on it, but we still have not been paid."
Miller said the lawsuit was filed to not only recover the money, but to be "at
the head of the line" when Johnson's company begins making payments.

Mick Burkart, Iowa Interstate's chief operating officer, said, "Every train was
full, every seat sold. So where is the money? If you calculate out the prices of
tickets, you come to over $1 million, or $1.2 million, in tickets sold. So where
did it go?"

Miller said that while Iowa Interstate still will run trips in conjunction with
charity groups, it's unlikely to embrace future events like Train Festival.
"From now on, if there was a big contract type trip, it's 100 percent cash up
front," Miller said. – Steve Glischinski

If I was planning it and it moves every year, Just a wild guess is Duluth, MN as it has the trackage to run and the museum knows how to run. Just a guess no inside info.

Damn right we do.

__________________
I personally have had a problem with those trying to tell us to turn railroad photography into an "art form." It's fine for them to do so, I welcome it in fact, but what I do have a problem with is that the practitioners of the more "arty" shots, I have found, tend to look down their nose's at others who are shooting more "mundane" shots.
Railroad photography is what you make of it, but one way is not "better" than another, IMHO. Unless you have a pole right thought the nose of the engine! -SG